Guards for rotary knives of slicing machines



Feb. 7, 1961 A. w. LUNDELL 2,970,624?

GUARDS FOR ROTARY KNIVES OF SLICING'MACHINES Filed March 18. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' IN VEN TOR. Agnew M lulvocu.

4/ 3 Arr-opus Feb. 7, 1961' A. w. LUNDELL 2,970,624

GUARDS FOR ROTARY KNIVES OF SLICING' MACHINES Filed March 18. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi-w W37 Feb. 7, 1961 A. W. LUNDELL GUARDS FOR ROTARY KNIVES 0F SLICING MACHINES Filed March 18, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVE R. 4 1mm M "06- 6 A n-ae/ n GUARDS FOR ROTARY KNIVES 0F SLICING MACHINES Filed March 18. 1959 Feb. 7, 1961 A. w. LUNDELL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR. flylvoLo M ZU/YQELL Arroervcv Unite Y.

GUARDS FOR ROTARY KNIVES F SLICING MACHINES Filed Mar. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 800,272

3 Claims. (Cl. 146102) This invention relates to guards for the rotary knives of slicing machines in general and more especially to guards for slicing machine power driven rotary knives inclined to the vertical.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved guard for a slicing machine rotary knife inclined to the vertical equipped with a sharpening assembly which is normally out of operative position and which slicing machine is equipped with a chute which may be reciprocated to and from the knife and have wings the lower edges of which just clear the knife in operative position, and which guard is located in operative position to be liberated in inoperative position, to be moved to one side and cooperate with said chute to afford access to said knife and enable said sharpening assembly to be brought into sharpening or operative position with said knife.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the present invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective of a slicing machine showing the knife guard in operative position with the sharpening assembly out of operative position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective similar to Fig. 1 showing the knife guard in inoperative position with the sharpening assembly in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 with the guard in operative position and the knife sharpening assembly in inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3 with the guard in inoperative position and the sharpening assembly in operative position.

Fig. is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view in perspective of the supporting disc of the guard, the hub of the knife and some of the intermediate parts.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment shown there is illustrated a frame 1 having a main housing 2 in which is contained a hanger for slidably receiving a first arm 3 which extends through the opening 4 in the rear of the housing 2. On the arm 3 there is mounted a bracket 5 to which is pivotally connected a second arm 6 to which is secured a chute 7 consisting of two wings 8 and 9 forming a dihedral angle with one another, the lower edges of which in operative position are disposed just clear of the gauge plate 10 and central portion 11 of the guard for the knife 12 which is disposed at an angle to the vertical. Depending upon the thickness of the slice to be cut, the gauge plate 1% in accordance with convention, is adjusted to a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife 12. The control for the adjustment of the gauge plate 16 is mounted in the housing 2 and operable by the knurled nut 13 on the end of the housing 2. In front of the main housing 2 there is formed a second housing 14 extending up from the frame 1. In the portion 15 of the second housing 14 there is mounted a motor having a shaft 16 on which is secured a worm wheel 17 in mesh with the gear 18 fixed on the diminished cylindrical portion 19 of the hub extension 20 of the knife 12. The extension 20 is rotatably mounted by the roller bearing assemblies 21 and 22 on the cylindrical portion 23 fixed on the rod or shaft 24 which is secured at one end to the central inner portion 25 of the central portion 11 of the guard. In order to obtain the best results the outer or upper face of the central portion 11 of the guard is disposed in the plane of the cutting edge 26 of the knife 12. In order to adjustthe outer face of the central portion 11 of the guard relative to the cutting edge 26 of the knife 12, the following assembly has been provided.

A central inner portion 25 of the guard is preferably composed of aluminum and is provided with an opening to receive a friction fit hardened steel bushing 27 having an internal thread to receive the external thread of the rod 24 preferably composed of cold rolled steel. Adjacent to the central inner portion 25 there is provided a bushing 28 which, see Fig. 6, has a pin 29 extending upwardly therefrom to enter the arcuate slot 30 in the central inner portion 25 of the guard. When the rod is turned to permit the central inner portion 25 to turn relative to the rod 24, the central inner portion 25 of the guard may be turned clockwise and with it turn the central portion 11 of the guard and therewith also the arcuate overhanging portion 31 integral with the central portion 11 to clear the cutting edge 26 of the knife adjacent to the sharpening assembly 32, see Fig. 2. Integral with the central portion 11 and arcuate portion 31 of the guard there is also provided a substantially polygonally shaped guard portion 33. In slicing position or operative position, see Fig. l, the arcuate portion 31 is turned counterclockwise relative to the position shown in Fig. 2 where the arcuate portion 31 is interposed between the sharpening assembly 32 and the cutting edge 26 of the knife 12 and the polygonally shaped portion 33 extends over the area between the knife 12 and the housing 2. The arcuate portion 31 is raised slightly relative to the intermediate portion 11 of the guard and the polygonal portion 33 is raised slightly relative to the arcuate portion 31. When the guard 34 comprising the intermediate poriton 11, arcuate portion 31 and polygonally shaped portion 33 is turned clockwise as shown in Fig. 2, the guard portion 33 would interfere with the movement of the chute 7. For this reason when it is desired to clear the cutting edge 26 of the knife 12 for cooperation with the sharpening assembly 32, it is desirable that the chute 7 is first swung into the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 about the pivot point 35 of the arm 6. Before so swinging the chute 7 the locking bolt 35 extending through the arm 6 into the screw threaded opening 36 of the bracket 5 is actuated to clear the opening 36 and release the arm 6 and therewith the chute 7 for movement into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the chute 7 is so swung into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, access is afforded to the knife 12, gauge plate 10 and guard 34 for effectively cleaning the same and also movement afforded for rotating the guard 34 in a clockwise direction into the position shown in Fig. 2 where the cutting edge 26 of the knife 12 adjacent to the sharpening assembly 32 is clear for engagement by the sharpening wheels 37 and 38 of the sharpening assembly 32.

The sharpening assembly 32, see Fig. 3, in inoperative position is swung clear of the arcuate portion 31 of the guard 34 and of the cutting edge 26 of the knife 12, the assembly 32 being mounted in a bracket 39 which is pivotally mounted by the pin 40 on the extension 41 of the second housing 15.

This sharpening assembly is similar to the sharpening assembly shown in United States Letters Patent No. 2,665,531. In operative position on the other hand, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, after the guard 34 has been rotated in a clockwise direction to clear the cutting edge 26 of the knife adjacent to the sharpening assembly, the sharpening wheels 37 and 38 are swung into sharpening relation with the cutting edge 26, the sharpening wheel 38 being disposed above the cutting edge 26 of the knife and the sharpening wheel 37 being disposed below the same. After the wheels are so positioned, and While the knife 12 is being rotated by the motor disposed in the housing 15, the handle 42 and pin 142 of the bracket 39 may be operated to bring one or both of the sharpening wheels 37 and 38 into sharpening engagement with the cutting edge 26 of the knife 12. See as an instance Fig.4 of U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,069,431 of the assignee and Figs. 24 and 25 of U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,598,740

of assignee. In the operation in order to swing the handle 42 from the grinding to rest position, the springpressed pin 142 is withdrawn to clear the handle 42 and enable it to be moved from grinding position into position of rest and vice versa from position of rest into grinding position.

When the sharpening operation has been completed the handle 42 will be released, the bracket 39 returned to its inoperative position, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the guard 34 rotated in a counterclockwise direction into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the guard 34 locked in its operative position, the chute swung back into position where the lower edges of the wings 8 and 9 will just clear the'central portion 11 of the guard, the shank of the locking nut 35 inserted into the opening 36 actuated to lock the arm 6 to the bracket and the slicing machine ready for a succeeding slicing operation.

The anchoring or locking of the guard 34 in fixed position relative to the frame 14 and relative to the rotation of the knife 12 is effected by the assembly now to be described.

The rod 24 extends from the bushing 27 through the cylindrical portion 43 in the bushing 28 through the cylindrical portion 44 in the cylindrical portion 23 through the cylindrical portion 45 .in the diminished cylindrical portion 19 through the cylindrical portion 46 in the boss 47 ofuthe casing portion 48 and extending to and beyond the bossL47 where therod 24 "is provided with a collar 49 intermediate the dimlnished'portion '50 and the locking nut 52 The cylindrical portion 46 is screw threadedly connected to the locking nut 52..v The knurled nut 51 integral with the rod24is turn'edto secure the several parts includingthe guard 34 into fixed relation to the casing. portion 48.

- To fix the bushing 28 to the cylindrical portion 43 there is provided the set'screw 53. Intermediate the cylindrical portion 43 andthe cylindrical portion 44 there is provided the cylindrical portion 54 on which is screw threadedly mounted the nut-55. Between the nut 55 and the inner or lower end of the bushing 28 there are provided the shims 56, the number determined by the adjustment required to position the outer face of the portion 11 of the guard 34 in substantial alinement with the outer face of the cutting edge 26 of the knife 12. Intermediate the nut 55 and the cylindrical portion 23 there is provided the, locking washer 57. As a lateral bearing for the hub 20 outwardly of the roller bearing assemblies 21 and 22, there is provided the felt ring or seal 58 be tween the bushing 28 and the hub 20. It will thus be seen that the hub 20 not only rides on the seal or felt washer 58 but also on the casing of the roller bearing assemblies 21 and 22 and also on the cylindrical portion 45. In locked position of the guard 34 relative to the casing portion 48, the bushing 28, cylindrical portions 43, 54, 44, 45, and 46 are frictionally locked against one another by the rod 24 drawing the central portion 25 of the guard 34 toward the collar 49.

The cylindrical portions 43, 54, 44, 45, and 46 are V integral with one another constituting the cylindrical a 59. It will be seen that on this bar 59 there is provided the collar or disc 60 in engagement with the boss 47. In view thereof it will be seen that the nut 52 due to its screw threaded engagement with the cylindrical portion 46 will draw the disc 60 of the bar 59 against the boss 47 and thereby anchor the bar 59 and therewith its cylindrical portions 43, 54, 44, 45, and 46 in fixed relation to the casing portion 48 and against movement with the hub 20 of the knife 12. In turn, the guard 34 willbe locked in fixed relation with the cylindrical bar 59 when the knurled nut 51 is turned to draw the central portion 25 of the guard 34 into locking relation, the rod 24 thereby drawing the central portion 25 against the bushing 28 which is fixed to the cylindrical portion 43 by the set screw 53. In turn when it is desired to release the guard 34 for rotation from the operative position in Fig. 1 into the inoperative position in Fig. 2, it will only be necessary to turn the knurled nut 51 to release the guard 34 to turn the guard 34 limited by the arcuate slot 30 cooperating with'the pin 29 on the bushing 28.

At the ends of the arcuate slot 39 and extending from the central inner portion 25 of the guard preferably composed of aluminum as aforesaid there are provided the steel pins 61 and 62 as stops to cooperate with the pin 29 preferably composed of steel extending from the bush ing 28, also preferably composed of steel.

Intermediate the set screw 53 and the cylindrical portion 43 there is preferably provided the keyed screw 63 provided with a polygonal shaped projection 64, foursided in the present instance, to enter the keyway 65 formed in the cylindrical portion 43. The keyway 65 extends into the cylindrical portion 54 of the bar 59 to recelve the key 66 of the locking Washer 57. When the nut 55 is threaded on the cylindrical portion 54 into its final position against the washer 57, one of the fingers 67 of the washer 57 will enter one of the grooves 68 in the nut 55 to lock the same in position.

It is obvious that various changes and modificat'ons may be made to the details and construction without departing from the general scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a power driven rotary knife for a slicing machine, the periphery of said knife constituting a cutting edge, a housing, a fixed shaft, a shaft rotatably mounted on said fixed shaft in said housing and fixed to said knife, a sharpening assembly, means pivotally mounting said sharpening assembly on said housing adjacent the outer portion of said cutting edge, a knife guard mounted on said fixed shaft including an arcuate portion normally enclosing said outer portion of said cutting-edge and interposed between said sharpening assembly and said cutting edge in the operative position of saidguard and in the inoperative position of said sharpening assembly, and rotating means for rotatably mounting said guard concentric to said shaft to move from its operative position between said sharpening assembly and said knife edge into its inoperative position clearing the space between said sharpening assembly and said knife edge and in turn from its inoperative position into its operative position, said pivotal means enabling said sharpening assembly to be moved into operative position when said guard is moved into inoperative position.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 characterized by a gauge plate mounted in said housing and disposed adjacent to and in substantially the plane of said cutting edge, said arcuate guard clearing said gauge plate in operative position and obstructing part of said gauge plate in inoperative position.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 characterized by a chambered shaft fixedly mounted in said housing, said knife shaft being chambered and rotatably mounted on said fixedchambered shaft, said rotating means including a rod extending through said fixed chambered shaft, means for anchoring said rod and said guard against rotation relative to said fixed chambered shaft, said anchoring means being operable to release said guard for rotation relative to said chambered shaft, a pin on said fixed chambered shaft, and an arcuate slot in said guard receiving said pin and limiting the movement of said guard to and from its operative position into its inoperative position.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 characterized by a chute, pivotal means for pivotally connecting said chute to said housing, means for anchoring said chute in operative position to advance theitems to be sliced to and from said cutting edge when said guard is in operative position and said sharpening assembly is in inoperative position, Said pivotal means enabling said chute to be swung clear of said guard in turn to enable said guard to be rotated into inoperative position and said sharpening assembly into operative position when it is desired to sharpen said cutting edge.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 characterized by a gauge plate mounted in said housing and disposed adjacent to and in substantially the plane of said cutting edge, said arcuate guard clearing said gauge plate in operative position and obstructing part of said gauge plate in inoperative position, a chambered shaft fixedly mounted in said housing, said knife shaft being chambered and rotatably mounted on said fixed chambered shaft, said rotating means including a rod extending through said fixed chambered shaft, means for anchoring said rod and said guard against rotation relative to said fixed chambered shaft, said anchoring means being operable to release said guard for rotation relative to said chambered shaft, a pin on said fixed chambered shaft, an arcuate slot in said guard receiving said pin and limiting the movement of said guard to and from its operative position into its inoperative position, a chute, a pivotal means for pivotally connecting said chute to said housing, and means for anchoring said chute in operative position to advance the items to be sliced to and from said cutting edge when said guard is in operative position and said sharpening assembly is in inoperative position, said pivotal means enabling said chute to be swung clear of said guard in turn to enable said guard to be rotated into inoperative position and said sharpening assembly into operative position when it is desired to sharpen said cutting edge.

6. The combination of a power driven rotary knife for a slicing machine, the periphery of said knife constituting a cutting edge, a housing, a chambered shaft fixedly mounted in said housing, a knife shaft rotatably mounted on said chambered shaft and fixed to said knife, a sharpening assembly, means pivotally mounting said sharpening assembly on said housing adjacent the outer portion of said cutting edge, a knife guard including an arcuate portion normally including said outer portion of said cutting edge and interposed between said sharpening assembly and said cutting edge in the operative position of said guard and in the inoperative position of said sharpening assembly, a rod extending through said fixed chambered shaft, means for anchoring said rod and said guard against rotation relative to said fixed chambered shaft, said anchoring means being operable to release said guard for rotation relative to said fixed chambered shaft, a pin on said fixed chambered shaft, and an arcuate slot in said guard receiving said pin and limiting the movement of said guard to and from its operative position out of and into its inoperative position.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 characterized by a gauge plate mounted in said housing and disposed adjacent to and in substantially the plane of said cutting edge, said arcuate guard clearing said gauge plate in operative position and obstructing part of said gauge plate in inoperative position.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 6 characterized by a chute, pivotal means for pivotally connecting said chute to said housing, means for anchoring said chute in operative position to advance the items to be sliced to and from said cutting edge when said guard is in operative position and said sharpening assembly is in inoperative position, said pivotal means enabling said chute to be swung clear of sad guard in turn to enable said guard to be rotated into inoperative position and said sharpening assembly into operative position when it is desired to sharpen said cutting edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,665,531 Sivertsen Jan. 12, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 230,940 Great Britain Mar. 26, 1925 

